1878, embedded into the wall of the south-west angle of the cottage at Pont Vaen, half a mile west of Lampeter, just where the road to Aberaeron branches from the Newcastle-Emlyn road. It is about 6 ft. high, half being buried' in the angle of the wall of the cottage, and the other half forming part of the wall of the adjoining enclosure, into which it had evidently formed one of the gate-posts, one of the staples still remaining on the north side of the stone, below which is the figure of a cross formed of simple, double incised lines, the left hand limb of which is hidden in the wall of the cottage. It is said to have been brought from the neighbouring Peterwell. It was first mentioned and figured by Mr. Worthington G. Smith in the Gardener's Chronicle, Sept. 21, 1878", in which, after speaking of the great yews in Lampeter churchyard, he says, "I was reminded of this tree again a day or two afterwards, on passing an inn called 'The Sexton's Arms.' Not far from the church is an early Christian stone from Peterwell, formerly used as a gate-post; and now, with its back to the road, it stands half embedded in an old cottage-wall. One half of an incised cross can still be seen, and it is by no means impossible that the stone bears some inscription on one of its hidden faces." (P. 369.) A woodcut is given of the stone, corresponding exactly, as will be seen on comparison with my figure, Lap. Wall., Pl. LXVI, fig. 2, 1. On comparing the above descriptions with the statement concerning the "Pontfaen" Stone2 given on p. 234, it is quite evident that Mr. W. Bund has, notwithstanding my very careful description, missed the stone figured by myself and Mr. Worthington G. Smith, and that the stone which he found lying on the roadside at Pontfaen has not previously been recorded, and that it is most probably the corresponding post of the entrance into the enclosure mentioned by me in my above quoted description, and miscalled by Mr. W. Bund a field. 2. The "Idnert", Llanddewibrefi, Stone (Lap. Wall., p. 140, Pl. LXVIII, fig. 3). Mr. W. Bund adds nothing to my description except that the letter "d" in "Idnert" is broken through, and that "after filius' the letter 'I' follows a mark which may represent AC or AG." In my description it is stated that "after the word 'filius' is the letter followed by marks which may possibly represent the letters AC or AG.' The correction of this misquotation is of consequence with reference to the name IACOBI, suggested as that of a supposed saint, as doubtingly read by Dr. Hübner. The inscription is read by Mr. W. Bund “Idnert filius 1[AP] It is to be hoped that the photograph will show us which is the correct reading. 1 Mr. Willis-Bund misquotes my description in stating that this stone is broken through the middle. 2 Not to be confounded with the Pontfaen stone, Fishguard. 3. The stone in Llanddewibrefi churchyard (copied by me in Lap. Wall., p. 139, Pl. LXVI, fig. 4, from the Rev. H. L. Jones' drawings) agrees with Mr. W. Bund's description, except that the cross is split through the middle, not on one side it, as there shown. Mr. W. Bund closes his observations with the remark that the stones which he described showed the necessity for a revised list of the Cardiganshire stones; and although he was afraid in many instances photographs will be hardly satisfactory, yet they will probably be more so than anything else. To which I must reply, from the experience which I have had in treating photographs artistically, that a good rubbing is superior to a photograph in representing the irregularities and marks on sculptured or inscribed stones. I. O. WESTWOOD. Oxford, 18 July 1891. QUERN FOUND NEAR LAMPETER.-The upper stone of a quern or handmill for grinding corn, here illustrated, was found in pulling down a wall at Cellars, near an ancient British camp. It is 1 ft. 2 in. diameter. REPUTED COFFIN OF CONAN MÉRIADEC.-The stone coffin here illustrated by Mr. Worthington G. Smith was seen by the members of the Cambrian Archæological Association on the occasion of their visit to St. Pol de Léon during the Brittany Meeting in 1889.1 This remarkable relic is placed against the south wall of the south aisle of the nave of the Cathedral, being supported on two rectangular pillars, one at each end. The coffin consists of a rectangular block of granite hollowed out in the usual way. It is 7 ft. 8 in. long by 2 ft. 3 in., to 2 ft. 4 in. wide, by 2 ft. deep, outside; and 6 ft. 1 in. long, by 1 ft. 5 in. to 1 ft. 8 in. wide, by 1 ft. 1 in. deep, inside. The 1 See Arch. Camb., 5th Ser., vol. vii, p. 162. four vertical faces are ornamented with sculpture in low relief as follows: North Side.-A coventional tree within a round-headed panel, next the east end; and an arcade of five semicircular arches springing from flat pilasters having stepped capitals like those to be seen in Saxon architecture. The spandrels are filled in with conventional foliage, and there is a narrow band of geometrical ornament running round the inside of each of the arches, and horizontally across between the capitals. The ornament consists of chevrons, a Z keypattern, a row of lozenges, etc. South Side. A similar design to that on the north side, but hidden against the wall. East End.-An ornamental cross with spiral terminations to the arms, and surrounded by eight raised bosses on a sunk background. West End.-A conventional tree. The coffin is now used as a holy water-vessel. The cover has disappeared; but according to a writer of the seventeenth century it was inscribed, in ancient characters, "Hic jacet Conanus Britonum Rex." The style of the art shows the coffin to be of the eleventh or even twelfth century, so it is quite impossible that it can be the tomb of Conan Mériadec, the first King of the Britons, who is supposed to have lived in the fourth century. Even the existence of Conan himself is doubtful. J. R. A. INTERESTING DISCOVERIES AT MOLD.-Some most interesting discoveries of very ancient ruins have been lately made at the Bailey Hill, Mold. Agreeably with a request from the Committee of the Welsh National Eisteddfod, Rhyl, upon the instructions of the Local Board some of the scavengers of the town were put to work on the grounds of the Bailey Hill for the purpose of finding a stone for the Bardic Circle. The men commenced to dig on the summit of the hill with this object, and after going 3 or 4 ft. deep came across a large quantity of stone, and being ordered to proceed with their work discovered a wall and part of a circle. They were then authorised to resume their work in another direction. Operations were afterwards made at the foot of the Hill, where their labours were still more successful. Here, with but little exploration, a wall 6 ft. in width was found, and a number of human bones were taken from the soil. Some little distance away another wall was exposed, which measured no less than 10 ft. in width. The walls are parallel, with a space of about 4 yards between, and are supposed to be an entrance to a tower embedded in the soil, and covered with trees. Much interest is taken in the discovery by the inhabitants. CARVING AT KIDWELLY CASTLE.-In view of the discovery of a piece of carving on a wall of Kidwelly Castle, it may be of interest 5TH SER. VOL. VIII. 21 |